Electric switch and special application thereof



July 10, 1934. w DEANs 1,966,285

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SPECIAL APPLICATION THEREOF Original Filed April 26,1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY By WJIM-Q July 10, 1934 w, DEANS 1,966,285

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SPECIAL APPLICATION THEREOF Original Filed April 2a1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2- I N VEN TOR.

. BY LCLfiII A TTORNEY July 10, 1934. w. DEANS ELECTRIC SWITCH ANDSPECIAL APPLICATION THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L L L Original Filed April25, 1950 z p/7L 5,:

5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented July. 10, 1934 ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SPECIAL APPLICATIONTHEREOF William Deans, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments,to The Clark Controller Company, Cleveland, .Ohio, a corporation bioOriginal application April .26, 1930, Serial No. 447,440. Divided andthis application February 20, 1932, Serial No. 594,241

12 Claims. (Cl. 172--239) The present invention relates to an automaticdouble-throw alternator switch; and the primary object thereof is toprovide a simple and eflicient switch of this type in which the positionof the contacts of a single pole, or of a plurality of poles,

will not be affected by the energization of an electromagnet but will beclosed alternately on the successive de-energization of the magnet,.o-rV106 versa.

This object I attain by a novel operative connection between the magnetand a rock-shaft carrying the double-throw contacts of the switch whichcomprises, broadly, a member carried by the armature or movable memberof the magnet to reciprocate therewith normally and yieldingly in a pathintersecting the axial line of the rockshait and a second member fixedto said shaft and so disposed and shaped that a surface or part on oneside of its axis will lie in the normal path of travel of the firstmember and will be operatively engaged and rocked in one direction bysaid first member on its advance movement, thereby closing one set ofthe switch contacts and in so doing deflecting the first member somewhatfrom and bringing a similar surface or part on the opposite side of itsown axis into the normal path of the first member, there to remain onthe withdrawal of the first member and be operatively engaged and rockedin the opposite direction on the next advance movement of the firstmember.

While not limited as to the field of its utility, my new alternatorswitch is particularly adapted for use in connection with a motor-drivenduplex pumping or similar apparatus where it is desired to operate theapparatus alternately, or in alter- I nate sequence, and 'to such .end Ihave provided the circuit connections whereby a circuit controlled by afloat. pressure, or like switch will be connected through one set ofcontacts of a double-pole alternator switch with the starting cir-' cuitof one of two motors and through the second set of its contacts with thesecond motor, in such manner that the position of these contacts willnot be affected by the starting up of the motors but on the stopping ofeither motor the alternator switch will be actuated to place thestarting circuit of the other motor under the control of the float orlike control switch, and a circuit controlled by a second float or likecontrol switch will in like manner be alternately connected with the twomotors through the contacts of the two additional poles of a four-polealternator switch so that the motors will, if required, operate togetherin alternate sequence.

The invention will be fully understood from the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is an end elevational view of an alternator switchillustrating one practical embodiment of my invention, the magnet of theswitch being shown as energized and the parts of the switch in positionwith the upper contacts closed; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshowing the switch with its magnet de-energized and its parts in theposition to which they have been shifted thereby; Fig. 3 is afragmentary view, in front elevation, of parts of the switch in theposition in which they are shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a View, similar toFigjl, illustrating an embodiment in modified form of the invention;Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a typical duplex motor system in whichthe circuits of the two motors are connected up for control by two floatswitches' through a four-pole alternator switch; and Fig. 6 is a similarView of a modified system in which 3 the two motors are controlledthrough a twopole alternator switch by a single float switch.

Referring first to the alternator switch shown in Figs. l-3 of thedrawings, the switch-actuating magnet 10, of the solenoid type, ismounted upon the usual panel; and within the slotted lower end of itsarmature 11 is pivotally mounted the member 12, which carries fixed inits rounded free end and projecting to one side thereof an actuating pin13. The spring 14, which is attached at one end to a pin 15 set into theopposite side of the member 12 slightly above pin 13 and at its otherend to a post 16 fixed to the panel, serves to yieldingly hold themember 12 in longitudinal alignment with the axis of the armature andalso, as it is put under increased tension when the armature is raisedon the energization of the magnet, supplements gravity in drawing thearmature downwards when released on the de-energization of the magnet.The upper and lower movable switch contacts 17 17 and 18 18 (17 and 18only being shown), operatively related to upper andlower fixed contacts19 19 and 20 20 (the latter not shown) fixed to the panel, are carried,resiliently mounted thereon as shown, at the opposite ends of one ormore elbow pole-pieces 21 21 which are clamped or otherwise suitablysecured in place upon a rock-shaft 22, of insulating material, whichrock-shaft is journaled at its ends in bearings in supports 23 23 fixedto the panel and so positioned thereon thata projection of the axis ofthe shaft will intersect the projected axis of the armature and one ofsuch ends will adjoin that side of the member 12 from which projects thepin 13. To this end of the rock-shaft there is fixed, outside thebearing, the rock-lever 24, of a more or less inverted T-shape, withoppositely inclined cam edges 24 24 which intersect at their outer endsto thereby convert the central upward projection of the lever into adouble wedge and terminate at the base of this wedge in roundedshoulders 24 24 The rock-lever is so positioned upon the shaft thatwhenthe upper switch contacts are closed the cam edge 24 of the lever willlie in the normal path of travel of the pin 13, as shown in Fig. 1, andwhen the shaft has been rocked to open the upper and close the lowerswitch contacts the cam edge 24 will have been shifted into the normalpath of travel of the pin. A second spring 25, which is attached at oneend to the panel and at the other end to a pin 25 set into the end of anarm 27 so fixed to the opposite end of the rock-shaft as to bisect theangle between the two arms of the pole-pieces 21 21, is first tensionedby the rocking of the shaft and then, as the pin on the arm passes thecenter of the arc of the circle through which it moves, assists incompleting the rocking movement of the shaft and yieldingly locks inclosed position whichever set of switch contacts have been closedthereby.

The operation of the switch, as is obvious, is as follows: Assuming thatthe coil of the magnet is I energized and hence that the parts of thedevice are in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, on theopening of the circuit of the magnet coil, the armature drops by gravitysupplemented by the pull of spring 14 and the pin 13 engages and slidesalong the cam edge 24 of the rock-lever, swinging the free end of member12 out of its normal path of travel, until it reaches the shoulder 24and then rocks the lever and with it the rock-shaft 22 and the partscarried thereon, in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1,to first open the upper contacts 17 and 19, put the spring 25 underincreased tension and then, assisted by spring 25 after the latter hasbeen carried past center, to close the lower contacts 18 and 20, therebybringing the parts of the device into theposition in which they areshown in Fig. 2. .When the magnet is again energized by the closing ofthe circuit through its coil, the armature and member 12 are drawn upagainst the action of the spring 14 which swings the member back intoits normal path with pin 13 extending above the cam edge 24 whilenothing happens to the switch proper since its lower contacts are heldyieldingly locked in closed position by spring 25. Hence, when themagnet is next de-energized there is the same sequence of operations asbefore but the action on the switch contacts is reversed, the pin 13 nowengaging the cam edge 24 of the rock-lever and on reaching the shoulder24 rocking the shaft, in a counter-clockwise direction, to open thelower and close the upper switch contacts, which, also as before, areheld in position by the spring 25 when the magnet is again energized.The cycle of operations thus completed is then repeated, with the resultthat the two sets of switch contacts are opened and closed alternatelyon successive de-energizations of the magnet and are in no way affectedby the energiza tion of the magnet.

In the modified form of the switch shown in Fig. 4, the magnet 40 is ofthe clapper type, and the free end ofthe member 42 which is pivotallymounted within the slotted tail of the armature 41, instead of carryingan actuating pin, is taperingly widened and slotted to form a centralprojection 43 and two lateral projections with inner inclined cam edges42 and 42 and, as before, is yieldingly held in normal operativeposition by the spring 44 fixed at one end to a pin 45 set into themember and at its other end to the panel. The co-operating member 54,which in place of the former rock-lever is fixed on the adjacent end ofthe rock-shaft 22, is in the form of a disk and carries set therein, onopposite sides of its axis, pins 54 and 54 which project therefrom intothe path of travel of the cam edges of the member 42. And here, as asubstitute for the contact locking spring of the switch first described,there are provided two lock members 55 and 56 which at one end arepivotally supported upon the panel, at their free ends are cut away ontheir inner edges to provide shoulders 55 and 56 operatively related tothe pins 54 and 54 respectively, and are connected and yieldingly drawntowards each other by a light spring 57.

The operation of the modified switch is substantially the same as ofthat already described. Thus, starting with the device in the positionshown, when the magnet is de-energized the armature is rocked on itspivot, by gravity supplemented by the pull of spring 44, and the member42 is thrust back towards the panel with the result that the cam edge 42engaging pin 54 slides thereon and swings the free end of member 42upwardly to thereby push back the lock member 56 and withdraw itsshoulder from behind the pin and then, when the bottom of the slotreaches the pin, the disk and with it the rock-shaft are rocked to openthe lower contacts 18 and 20 and close the upper contacts 17 and 19, thepin 54 being at the same time moved forwardly until the shoulder on lockmember 55 can spring behind it to lock the rock-shaft and switchcontacts-in the position into which they have thus been shifted. On theenergization of the magnet the member 42 is drawn forward against, andpositioned as before, by the tension of spring 44; and when the magnetis again deenergized the cam edge 42 and the bottom of the slot in whichit ends successively engage pin 54 to first unlock and then rock therock-shaft to open the upper contacts 1'7 and 19 and close the lowercontacts 18 and 20, and these parts are again locked in position by theengagement of the shoulder 56 with the pin 54.

Referring now to the duplex motor system illustrated in Fig. 5, M and Mdesignate the two motors, S and S designate the starters by which themotors are respectively connected with the line wires L L and L F and Fdesignate two float switches, and A designates a four-pole double-throwalternator switch through which the actuating circuits of the motorstarters are controlled by the float switches. The control circuitconnections and the operation of the system are as follows: With thecontacts of the alternator switch A locked in the position shown, theclosure of float switch F on a drop of the fluid in a tank as shown,establishes a circuit from line wire L of motor M by wire a, uppercontacts 17 and 19 of alternator switch A, wire b, contacts of floatswitch 15, wire 0, upper contacts 19 and 17*- of alternator switch A,and

wire at through the magnet coil s of motor starter S to the line wire LStarter S is thereupon actuated to connect motor M to the line andthereby start that motor; and in so doing closes auxiliary switch 100and so establishes a circuit between the same line wires L and L bywires e and I, switch 100, and wires 9 and it through the coil of magnet10 of the alternator switch, which magnet thus energized raises itsarmature without, as seen, afiecting the position of the switch contactsand continues to hold the armature raised so long as motor M is running.If and when float switch F is closed, as on a further drop of the fluidin the tank, starter S will be actuated, to start motor M by theestablishment of .a circuit between the line wires L and L of thissecond motor by wire a, upper contacts 17 and 19 of alternator switch A,wire i, contacts of float switch F wire 7', upper contacts 19 and 17 ofalternator switch A, and

wire d through the magnet coil s" of the starter. With both motorsrunning, a rise of the fluid in the tank will first open float switch Fthereby breaking the circuit through the magnet coil of its starter andstopping motor M and later will open float switch F to break the circuitthrough the magnet coil of starter S and not only stop the motor M butalso, by the opening of auxiliary switch 100, break the circuit of andde-energize the magnet 10 of the alternator switch, the effect of which,as hereinabove described, is to shift the contacts of this switch, theupper to open and the lower to closed position. The circuit connectionsbetween the -float switches and the starters of the two motors have nowbeen reversed. Hence when float switch F is again closed motor M will bestarted by the actuation of its starter, through the circuit establishedbetween its line wires L and L by wire a lower contacts 18 and 20 ofalternator switch A, wires 0 and 0, contacts of float switch F wires band 12', lower contacts 20 and 18 of alternator switch A, and wire dthrough the magnet coil s" of its starter, and at the same timeauxiliary switch 101 will be closed and again establish the circuit ofand energize magnet 10 of the alternator switch without affecting theposition of its contacts; and now motor M will be started in sequence onclosure of float switch F and the establishment thereby of a circuitbetween line wires L and L of that motor by wire a, lower contacts 20and 18 of alternator switch A, wires 7" and 7', contacts of float switchF wires i and i, lower contacts 20 and 18 of alternator switch A, andwire d through the magnet coil s' of its starter. On the next succeedingopening of the float switches motor M and W will be stopped in thatsequence, and with the stopping of motor M auxiliary switch 101 will beopened, magnet 10 of the alternator switch A will be de-energized, andthe contacts of that switch will again be shifted, the upper back toclosed and the lower back to open position, for a repetition of thecycle of operations described.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the starters of the two motors are controlled,to start the two motors alternately but not to operate them both at thesame time, by a single float switch F here shown as closed and opened bythe rise and fall respectively of the fluid in a tank; through a twopoledouble-throw alternator switch A. For this simplified operation, thecircuit controlled by the float switch is connected through the uppercontacts of the alternator switch with the starter circuit of motor M bywire a, contacts 19 and 17, wire b, contacts of float switch'F wire 0,contacts 17? and 19 and wire d through the magnet coil s of starter Sand with the starter circuit of motor M through the lower contacts ofthe alternator switch-by wire a, contacts 20 and 18, wire b, contacts offloat switch F wire 0, contacts 18 and 20 and wire d through the magnetcoil 3 of the starter S and associated respectively with the two motorstarters'are the same two auxiliary switches 100 and 101 by means ofwhich the circuit of the'magnet 10 of the alternator switch is closed toenergize that magnet whenever either motor M or motor M is started, and,on the stopping of whichever motor has been started, is opened tode-energize the magnet 10 and thereby effect a shift in the position ofthe contacts of the alternator switch.

While I have explained the principle of my invention in connection withthe forms I now consider best for the practical embodiment thereof, itis to be understood that the invention can be further variously modifiedin its several details, within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing the substantial advantagesthereof.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 447,440, filedApril 26, 1930.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a motor control system, the combination of two motors withstarters associated therewith, a control switch, an electromagneticallyactuated plural-pole double-throw control switch,circuit connectionsoperatively connecting the circuit of the control switch to theactuating circuit of the starter of one motor through contacts on oneside and to the actuating circuit of the starter of the second motorthrough contacts on the opposite side of the double-throw switch, meansoperative to energize the actuating magnet of the double-throw switchwhen either motor is started and to de-energize it when and only whenthe motor then running is stopped, said double-throw 'after the otherand to be opened in reverse sequence, an electromagnetically actuatedfourpole double-throw switch, circuit connections operatively connectingone control switch with each of the two motor starters, one switch withone motor starter through the upper contacts of the first two poles andto the second motor starter through the lower contacts of the second twopoles of the double-throw switch and the other control switch to thesecond motor starter through the upper contacts of the second two polesand to the first motor starterthrough the lower contacts of the firsttwo poles of the doublethrow switch, means operative on the starting ofthe motor first started to energize the actuating magnet of thedouble-throw switch and to de-energize it when 'and only when the samemotor is stopped, said double-throw switch having means operativelyconnecting its actuating magnet with its contacts whereby on successiveenergizations of the magnet the contacts will benately and will not beaffected by the energization of the magnet.

3. In a motor control system, the combination of two motors withelectromagnetically controlled starters associated therewith, a controlswitch, a plural-pole double-throw switch with contacts biased to closedposition on one or the other side thereof, control circuits operativelyconnecting the control switch with the starter of one motor throughcontacts on one side and to the starter of the second motor throughcontacts on the opposite side of the double-throw switch, and meanscontrolled by the starters of the two motors respectively, whereby thestopping of which ever motor has been started will shift the con tacts'on the opposite side of the double-throw switch from closed to open andfrom open to closed position respectively.

4. In a motor control system, the combination of two motors withelectromagnetically controlled starters associated therewith, twocontrol switches adapted to close /one after the other and to open inreverse sequence, a plural-pole.

double-throw switch with contacts biased to closed position on one orthe other side thereof, control circuits operatively connecting onecontrol switch with each of the two motor starters, one switch with onemotor starter through two of the upper contacts and to the second motorstarter through two of the lower contacts of the double-throw switch andthe other control switch to the second motor starter through two otherupper contacts and to the first motor starter through two other lowercontacts of the doublethrow switch, and means controlled by the startersof the two motors respectively for shifting the contacts of thedouble-throw switch from closed to open and from open to closed positionrespectively on the stopping of whichever'of the two motors has beenstarted.

5. In a motor control system, the combination of a plurality of motors,means including electric circuits and a plural-pole double-throw switchfor controlling the operation of said motors, and means operative on thestopping of whichever motor has been started by the closing of itscircuits through the switch to automatically effect a shifting thereofto close the circuits of another motor. p

6. In a motor control system, the combination of a plurality of motors,means including a control switch, a plural-pole double-throw switch andelectric circuits for controlling the operation of said motors, andmeans for actuating the double-throw switch operative on each operationof the control switch to effect a shifting thereof to open the circuitsof one and to close the circuits of another of said motors.

'7. In a control system, the combination of a plurality of translatingdevices, means including electric circuits and a plural-poledouble-throw switch for controlling the operation of said translatingdevices, and means operative on the stopping of whichever translatingdevice is being operated by the closure of its circuits through theswitch to automatically effect a shifting thereof to close the circuitsof another translating device.

8. In a control system, the combination of a plurality of translatingdevices, means including a control switch, a plural-pole double-throwswitch and electric circuits for controlling the operation of saidtranslating devices, and means for actuating the double-throw switchoperative on each operation of the control switch to effect a shiftingthereof to open the circuits of one and to close the circuits of anotherof said translating devices.

9. In a control system, the combination of a plurality of translatingdevices, means including a control device, anelectromagnetically-actuated relay and electric circuits for controllingsaid translating devices, and means automatically actuated only on thedeenergization of the actuating coil of the relay under control of thecon trol device for shifting the control of the latter from one toanother of said translating devices.

10. In combination, an electric circuit, a plurality of transatingdevices, a plurality of se quentially operable control devices foreffecting the sequential connection and disconnection of saidtranslating devices to and from said circuit, and means controlled bysaid control devices for automatically changing when the lasttranslating device is disconnected from said circuit the order in whichsaid translating devices are operated by the sequential operation ofsaid control devices.

11. In combination, an electric circuit, a plurality of translatingdevices, control means for effecting the connection and disconnection ofone of said devices to and from said circuit, other control means foreffecting the connection and disconnection of another of said devices toand from said circuit, and means controlled by said first mentionedcontrol means for placing ancircuit, a control device normally arrangedto control the energization of one of said starting circuits, a controlrelay controlled by said control device, other control means normallyarranged to control the energization of another of said startingcircuits, and means responsive to the energization and subsequentdeenergization of said control relay for removing the control of saidone of said starting circuits from said control device and for removingthe control of 1 said other starting circuit from the control of saidcontrol means and for placing it under the control of said controldevice.

WILLIAM DEANS.

